Mr D'Arcy (Rae) and some other Austin archetypes V Glasgow Warriors 10/12.22

Well peeps, Glasgow visit Baarf in the Diddy Cup tomorrow and I shall be there with Bigson and Pipetto.
The scheduling is appalling; a 1pm kick off means that travelling on the day of the game is not on and the fact that it is Baarf's Chrimbo Market weekend means that hotels prices are sky high (if you could find any available).  Consequently, we are hitting the road at lunchtime today and staying in a YMCA. It's fun to stay at the..

Anyhoo, I'll have a go at predicting the General's side.

Franco has talked about seeing the season in blocks of matches and he seems to pick a set for a block and rest others for the block. So Hornito and the House Elf seem to be the 9's at the moment. Similarly Richie and Big Man Jessie seem to be the locks.
Ragnar and Kebble looked like being the starting props but both are highly doubtful; hamstring and shoulder.

Franco also likes a 6/2 split so usually a 9 & 10 on the bench BUT apparently Huw Jones has been ripping it up at training and could well be in the 23.

SO
1. Bhatti ( should feel at home in Bath)/Macbeth
2. Chuckles/Matthews
3. Walker/Berghan (a big shout to start the youngster but Berghan hasn't played much recently. May see Sordoni instead)
4. His Richieness
5. Big Man Jessie (Du Preez)
6. Batman Gregor Brown may continue as bench option but Ally Miller has been prominent on the club's FB pix this week. Possibly both if it's a 6/2 )
7. Vailanu
8. Fagerson
9. Hornito (Dobbie)
10. Jordan (Miotti)
11. Cancillieri
12.
13.
14.Seaman
15. Smith
The centres are a conundrum; Stafford-Shona have been playing well and would seem most likely, Shona-Huw Jones would really be an exciting prospect, Shona-Seaman would be solid and allow Titman to come in on the wing.
Baarf play a very Warrenball type of game; they kick for territory a lot, don't like to have too much possession, look to play at a slow tempo and are very solid at the set piece. Glasgow are the exact opposite in many ways. If the General wants to counter their kicking game by having a fast back three then Titman could be a starter. But then Seaman would probably be moved into 13 and Shona to 12. A more pragmatic move would be Jones on the bench covering 12, 13 and 15. Jones could come on at 15 and allow Smith to move to wing if either need replaced. However, I think the General sticks with a 6/2 bench; Miller and Brown as back row replacements and ....... Shona and Jones to start. Or maybe....

p.s. there is no mention of Josh Mackay on the injury/ unavailable list. He would be well suited to counterattacking against a pack oriented kicking side. I wouldn't mind if he was in the back three.
p.p.s. Any west country types care to share their knowledge on where to have a refreshment pre and post match? Asking for a friend obviously.

Fecc me, the General seems to have gone full Tombola

1. Jamie Bhatti (74)
2. George Turner (82)
3. Simon Berghan (16)
4. Lewis Bean (22)
5. JP du Preez (8)
6. Ryan Wilson (218)
7. Cameron Neild (0)
8. Jack Mann (0)

9. Jamie Dobie (39)
10. Domingo Miotti (11)
11. Rufus McLean (24)
12. Stafford McDowall (43)
13. Huw Jones (49)
14. Kyle Steyn (C) (54)
15. Ollie Smith (21)

Replacements

16. Angus Fraser (0)
17. Nathan McBeth (8)
18. Lucio Sordoni (3)
19. Richie Gray (89)
20. Euan Ferrie (2)
21. Sean Kennedy (21)
22. Duncan Weir (126)
23. Walter Fifita (2)

Well, well. It'll be interesting that's for sure. Interestingly...Meatball is listed on the club website as unavailable due to a calf injury but is also named on the bench.

He has not exactly gone full metal jacket for this one.

I guess with the home game against Perpignan next week and then the derbies, he probably had to rest and rotate for this one. Some of the starters have played a lot of rugby this season.

Not holding out much hope here, as bath seem to have rolled out their first team but we could probably qualify with three wins, so maybe a reasonable tactic to take the hit this week.

In always like to see what the youngsters can do when they get a chance in any case. Nothing wrong with our back line and good to see Shuggie back at last, but you do feel our pack is going to get mashed!

Well Glasgow not read the script and dominate the first 5 minutes and score. Huw Jones looking dangerous alraedy and the pack showing up well.

The squad players have not read the script!

Glasgow are marmalising the Bath scrum atm!

And Turner goes over from a 5m lineout with a great drive.

Somewhat against expectations we are looking very strong up front!

12-0 Glasgow

Bath slowly coming to life and get a drive over try themselves

12-5 Glasgow

And another one for Bath, it's a battle of the 5m lineouts atm

12-12

Shuggy is definitely back, makes a try out of nothing, so powerful on the ball!

19-12 Glasgow on the point of HT

Left one behind there, fabulous build up but fluffed the try

YC for Glasgow and try for Bath

19 all 18 mins to go

Duncy puts us back into the lead with a penalty

Wow

Glasgow's squad players beat the mighty Bath at the Rec

What a performance!!

Some really good performances in amongst a strong team performances.

In truth though we should have won by a lot more and the new guys did well to get us over the line.

Ollie Smith MoM but it could have been several others.

Huw Jones showed his class and will make a big difference now he is back.

Jack Mann the new kid looked very comfortable for his first game unfortunately took a very heavy knock later on and went off, he will hopefully get more chances.

Got to mention Ryan Wilson as well, who played like an old dog in the back row. If this is his last year in a Glasgow shirt, he certainly plans to go down fighting.

"
Got to mention Ryan Wilson as well, who played like an old dog in the back row. If this is his last year in a Glasgow shirt, he certainly plans to go down fighting."

Was there ever going to be any other way?

Promising stuff from Glasgow! Winning away against Bath is a step up from Zebre that is for sure. Great to see them win a dogged battle as well, need more of those sort of victories in Scottish club rugby.

Glasgow just issued a statement saying that Jack Mann, who had a great debut, yet looked extremely groggy as he left the pitch supported by the medical team, was able to join the rest of the team after the match and will be travelling home with the team tonight.

More good news.

Well hat was a cracker of a match. It was also a cracker of a weekend.
The Glasgow pack really fronted up well. Bhatti-Turner-Berghan took no lip from the Bath front row. Mind the Bath props were called D'Arcy and Valery.
Du Preez disrupted the lineout and stole a couple, but his carrying needs some work.
Nield put in a decent shift. Mann looked very good; live his concussion looked much more serious than on TV. There was basically a massive disconnect between his brain and his legs for a couple of minutes. If he has had concussions before then I would seriously question playing him in the near future. Batman took a sore one. We asked Wee Dunkie after the game and he said, "Aye, it must have been bad. Ryan's nuts he wouldn't scream and lie on the floor if it wasn't bad." He accompanied this with the finger pointed at the temple and rotated gesture so we were fully cognisant that "Ryan's nuts" was a reference to his mental state and not his genitalia.As we were talking some Glasgow fans in the hospitality box above us started giving out some friendly banter. "Come doon here and say that. Bring yer beer an aw!" Was Dunkie's response. He is a legend.
Everyone behind the scrum was impressive...but a special mention for Shug Jones. Outside break. Outside break. Outside break. Feint to go outside, step in and score a try. He was quality all day.
The Rec is a great wee stadium to visit and the Bath fans were all very welcoming.
Finally, what is it with me and props?
Approaching the ground we saw lots of signs for the cricket club and the sports centre but nothing for any rugby. We saw some people slipping down a side road. We started down it but still no signs. There was a sturdy lad in front of us just ending a phone call. Excuse me mate I called. He turned and  I realised I was looking at one of Bath's best ever players. "I'm going to sound really stupid, I've just realised I'm about to ask Gareth Chilcot how to get to the Rec."

Neither Bigson nor Pipetto had any idea who he was. He was charming and helpful and walked us down to the ground, pointed out our gate and wished us a good day. When I explained Bigson said Chilcot was a top bloke.
Thankfully I never called him Shrek.